EAST LANSING -- After Saturday's loss to Iowa, Michigan State no longer controls its path to reaching the Big Ten championship game.

It could be a fight for the Spartans to make any bowl game, let alone a trip to Pasadena. At the season's midpoint, the conference's bowl picture as a whole is pretty murky.

The Big Ten has eight bowl tie-ins, and with Ohio State and Penn State ineligible (and Illinois and Indiana not good enough), there should be just enough to go around.

Here's my projection of how things will shake out:

MICHIGAN (4-2, 2-0)• Saturday -- Michigan State• Oct. 27 -- at Nebraska• Nov. 3 -- at Minnesota• Nov. 10 -- Northwestern• Nov. 17 -- Iowa• Nov. 24 -- at Ohio StateComment: Road trips to Nebraska and Ohio State still loom, but two other Legends contenders already have lost to the Buckeyes. The division title should be decided in the next two weeks, and the Wolverines are peaking at the right time.Projection: Rose Bowl (Jan 1. in Pasadena, Calif.)

WISCONSIN (5-2, 2-1)• Saturday -- Minnesota• Oct. 27 -- Michigan State• Nov. 10 -- at Indiana• Nov. 17 -- Ohio State• Nov. 24 -- at Penn StateComment: After wiping out Purdue on Saturday, the Badgers should need to win just three of their final five games to clinch a trip to Indianapolis. And if Montee Ball and the offense have returned to form, maybe the Big Ten title game won't be a pushover.Projection: Capital One Bowl (Jan. 1 in Orlando, Fla.)

IOWA (4-2, 2-0)• Saturday -- Penn State• Oct. 27 -- at Northwestern• Nov. 3 -- at Indiana• Nov. 10 -- Purdue• Nov. 17 -- at Michigan• Nov. 23 -- NebraskaComment: Iowa is unbeaten in the league but has Michigan and Nebraska looming at the end. A loss at Northwestern seems likely, and the Hawkeyes should be happy with a split at home against Penn State and Purdue.Projection: Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl (Dec. 29 in Tempe, Ariz.)

MICHIGAN STATE (4-3, 1-2)• Saturday -- at Michigan• Oct. 27 -- at Wisconsin• Nov. 3 -- Nebraska• Nov. 17 -- Northwestern• Nov. 24 -- at MinnesotaComment: A win in Ann Arbor could put the season back on track, but it seems unlikely for a Michigan State team that's finding a way to lose close games. The Spartans won't quit, and should win their last two. It's just finding a win in the next three weeks that will be tough.Projection: Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas (Dec. 28 in Houston)